Joint APHA/CIEH Response to the Smoke Free on Ships Consultation
The Association has consulted its members regarding the DfT's consultation on the proposed restriction of smoking on sea-going and inland waterway vessels and submitted a joint response with the CIEH.
There was a strong feeling amongst members that for the legislation to work effectively it was essential that Port Health Authorities and Local Authorities should have equal enforcement powers to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). APHA and the MCA recognise that on occasions it is necessary to call upon the expertise of professionals within each organisation to enforce legislation that falls within their particular expertise, and there is a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations that deals with such situations. However, for the proposed legislation, officers employed by the MCA, Local Authorities and Port Health Authorities are capable of enforcing it. The Association argued that as Port Health Authorities and Local Authorities are already charged with enforcing existing smoke free legislation, they are better placed to do so aboard vessels.
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